Jude Bellingham played just two minutes in Real Madrid’s match against Espanyol, marking his comeback from injury.
He afterwards played 20 minutes off the bench in the team’s subsequent match against Levante, continuing his recovery from the injury.
Now that Real Madrid are facing a pivotal matchup with Atletico Madrid this weekend, Xabi Alonso is unsure of how much Bellingham needs to be included in the game.
After all, there is little to no question that Alonso relies significantly on the player. Nonetheless, the coach is concerned about his physical readiness for such a demanding game.
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The Big Question
According to AS as reported by Madrid Universal, Alonso is faced with a difficult decision over whether to start Bellingham against Atletico.
Given that he is not match fit and has not yet started a game after recovering from an injury, the Englishman’s lack of sporting readiness is the main reason Alonso is unable to offer him the de facto starting position.
The player is fully recovered from his injury and the setback, and it is evident that he is not experiencing any pain in the surgically treated shoulder. After all, he has fully recovered from his operation, which was performed 71 days ago.
The manager is faced with a second linked decision as a result of the primary question in his mind: if he decides to give Bellingham a starting role, who should he bench between Arda Guler and Franco Mastantuono? Of the three players, only two are able to start properly.
Alonso’s concerns are justified, and with three days left before the derby, it is highly likely that the player will not be handed a spot from the first minute.
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